Sunday, September 18, 2016

It was only a matter of time.

The weighty question on so many of our (Baby boomer) minds
has been, “what was it truly going to take to get kids to play outside again?’

Migratory Black and White Warbler

Children born to those of us currently in our middle 50s
grew up battling the temptation to sit like lumps in front of a screen instead
of exploring their world outdoors.
Technology came on like gangbusters in the mid 1990s with generation
after generation of improvements geared towards making the gaming experience
more robust and in turn; all-consuming.
Friendships needed to evolve from cooperative play to parallel play and
then to remote-cooperative in parallel play.
Screens became bigger and bigger, and then smaller and smaller. Graphics starting at an amazing 8-bit have
now evolved into high definition and beyond.
All these “improvements” seemed to have sequestered a great segment of young-humanity
to their basements with the shades pulled, doors locked, and ovens loaded with high-carb
pizza rolls. Kid’s muscles began to slowly
atrophy while their tummies quickly expanded.
Combine this addictive “leisure” activity with the common, every day, and
every time method of communication known as texting; and there remained
virtually no reason to ever leave the home.

Meanwhile on the other side of the spectrum are traditional activities
that have involved being outdoors, using the large muscle groups, and dealing
with the elements. For decades; team and
individual sports played merely for enjoyment or competitively have occupied
the masses, from backyard games of Red Rover to Little league baseball. In terms of hobbies that involve getting out
of the house; hunting, fishing, hiking and biking have always offered great
diversion. City, county and municipal parks
have offered those individuals the chance to get away from it all in a serene
setting; while enjoying all that nature had to offer. As an avid watcher of birds; I relish the
opportunity to walk amongst the beauty of the outdoors while seeking my next interesting
avian sighting.

It was on this particular Sunday in September while in Lake
Park on Milwaukee’s lakefront for a morning bird-hike when it hit me. There were young parents pushing strollers,
groups of teens, pairs of bros, young couples, old people, fat people, and
geeky people methodically roaming over the landscape in search of something
only they could see on their electronic devices. But; they were OUTside doing it in a communal
sense. As I looked around me at the ever-growing masses of fair-weather humans;
all slow-walking, staring down at their cell phones and iPads: I realized in
that moment that I’ve been “tryin’ to catch ‘em all” long before Pokémon Go
ever became a thing!

Suddenly it was
clear. Anyone who had ever wondered about
what I might be up to all decked out in drab clothing, brimmed hat, binoculars
strapped on, and carrying a book was now putting themselves out there to pursue
something that brought them their own kind of joy.

I guess the only question I have for any of my fellow birding enthusiasts, as well as the bicyclists, hikers, joggers, and runners, that enjoy Lake Park or any other outdoor venue is; "are you OK with sharing your space with this new breed of hobbyists?" I personally answer; emphatically "YES!" I say, let them capture their elusive Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Megapod and Charizard in their own world of fantasy and wonder as I continue to seek additions to my own life-list of oddly-named avian species.

It's no weirder, no less consuming and no less enjoyable...it's just different. And hey...I finally captured (uh, sighted) my first Yellow-billed cuckoo today! Hell yes! Oh...I know...how about Pikachu VS Black-capped chickadee on a Poke'-Birde' Battle?Birde'mon-TAStic!

About Me

I'm a simple guy with very definite opinions about lots of stuff. I cling to the old-fashioned ideas of personal responsibility and hard work. I love capitalism and can celebrate anyone's successes. Having said that; I love watching birds and enjoying nature, however I don't hug trees and curse hunters. I believe in the great circle of life and survival of the fittest. I want to be a blessing while on this earth...that can mean all kinds of things.